Page 125 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“What about spiders?”

Anna chuckled. “I was just thinking about her freaking out about the spider in the shower.”

“When was that?”

“I don’t know,” Anna said. “Whenever she called you to help her get rid of it.”

“She’s a wimp when it comes to spiders, but thankfully she hasn’t quite reached the level of calling us to remove them for her.”

“But she said…” Anna’s insides tightened. “She didn’t call you?”

“I think I’d remember that! Did she callyou?”

“No, I just… she said… never mind. I might be confused…” Except she was fairly sure she wasn’t confused. “I’ll call her and check she’s okay.”

“Thanks, love. Where are you, by the way?”

“What do you mean, where am I? I already told you I’m still in bed.”

“You just don’t sound as though you’re at home…”

Anna opened and closed her mouth a couple of times.

“Never mind,” her mum said. “You’re not back with Hayden, are you?”

“No.” She shook her head, desperate to insist she was at home, but not actually comfortable with the outright lie.

“I’ll leave you to it, but call me if you get anything out of Carla.”

“Okay.” She ended the call in a daze. “How the heck did she know I wasn’t at home?” she muttered.

“Did you tell her you were here?” Warren asked, appearing in the doorway.

“No. But apparently I didn’t sound as though I was at home.” She frowned. “There isn’t any background noise, so how could she possibly know that.”

“Fiona knows everything.”

“She didn’t know about the spider,” Anna said under her breath.

“What was that?”

She massaged her forehead. “I have to go and see Carla.”

“How come?”

“Mum’s worried about her, and now I am too.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know for sure. I have an inkling, but I’m really hoping I’m wrong.”

“Would you like to share? You’re being cryptic.”

“Sorry.” Pushing the duvet aside, she scrambled for her clothes. “I have to go.”

“Now?” He moved in front of her. “I rearranged things so I don’t have to start work until later.”

“I really have to speak to Carla.”